Tooth paste dispenser having a cutoff valve actuated by a toothbrush



Nov. 7, 1950 J. M. MILLER TOOTH PASTE DISPENSER HAVING A CUTOFF VALVE ACTUATED BY A 'TOOTHBRUSH Filed June 30, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor John M. Mil/er WWW Patented Nov. 7, 1950 TOOTH PASTE DISPENSER HAVING A CUT- OFF VALVE ACTUATED BY A TOOTH- BRUSH John M. Miller, Summerdale, Ala.

Application June 30, 1948, Serial No. 36,189

2 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to collapsible tube holding and dispensing devices and has more particular reference to a type which is especially, but not necessarily, adapted to contain a tooth paste tube, the same being characterized, primarily considered, by a novel valved paste discharge neck.

, More specifically, the invention has to do with a casing or equivalent enclosure for the paste tube in which a knob-turned roller is slidably mounted in a manner to compress the tube and to effectively express the paste from the tube, said casing being provided on its lower end with a novel cap carrying the improved valve-equipped discharge neck.

In carrying out the principles of the invention, I provide a simple screw cap which is detachably connected with the lower open end of the casing, which serves to permit the screw neck of the tube to be properly lined up and connected thereto and which is provided with an L-shaped discharge neck, a cut-off valve for the ejecting end of the neck and operating means for the valve, which means includes a lever which is constructed and arranged to be actuated by the toothbrush.

Other objects and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying illustrative drawings: I

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a valveequipped tube container and dispensing device constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and illustrating the manner in which same is used;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical section on the line 2-2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a similar vertical sectional view at right angles, with parts in elevation, said section being on the vertical line 33 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a horizontal section through Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged end elevation of the valved cap means, said view observing the lower portion of Figure 3 in a direction from right to left.

Referring now to the drawings by distinguishing reference numerals, the casing unit is denoted by the reference character 1 and the valve-equipped closing cap unit is denoted, in a unitary structural sense, by the reference charerational results.

acter 8. The casing comprises a cylindrical, vertically elongated shell 9 of appropriate shape and .open at its bottom and screw-threaded, as at H), and closed at its top, as at H. As seen in Figure 3, a sight opening [2 is provided and this is exteriorl provided with a horizontal stop lip I3 and spaced parallel arcuate guide channels I4 which channels serve to accommodate a sliding transparent window I5 having an appropriate finger grip IS. The window permits the user to observe the starting operation and also facilitates obtaining access to the interior to set the parts in proper relationship for effective op- On its interior, the casing is provided with a fiat or panel-like backing [1, against which the tooth paste tube [8 is firmly pressed, as shown to advantage in Figure 3. The numerals I9 designate vertical parallel racks, and one rack to the left in Figure 2 cooperates with a grooved guideway 20. Diametrically opposite to the guideway and cooperating with the remaining rack is a longitudinal slot 2| which opens through the lower open end of the casing. Located between the racks is a presser roller 22 mounted on a turnable and slidable shaft. One end of the shaft provides a journal 23 which operates in the guideway 29. This end of the shaft is provided with a cog 24 meshing with the adjacent rack l9. On the opposite end of the roller, the shaft portion 25 is provided with a cog 2B which meshes with the other rack. The shaft portion 25 extends outwardly and beyond the slot 2| where it carries a finger knob 21. The finger knob is sufficiently large and appropriately knurled to permit it to be grasped and operated in the manner indicated in Figure 1. These types of ejectors are not new and it is obvious that by placing the end portion 28 of the tube between the backing plate and roller as the roller turns, it compresses the tube and, in turn, expresses the contents through the usual screwthreaded discharge neck 29 (see Figs.

2 and 3) It is also customary to provide suitable means for attaching the casing to a wall or other support. I provide a casing with an integral T- shaped bracket including a portion 29 carrying a wedge-shaped head 30 which is removably mounted in wedge-type guide channels 3| on a wall bracket 32 held in place on the wall 33- by screws or similar fastenings 34. Obviously, I make no claim to the bracket or fixture means for supporting the unit 1.

Referring now to the novel unit '8, this comprises a closing cap 35 for the lower open end of the casing, said cap having a screw-threaded rim 36 which is screwed on the screw-threaded end portion I of the casing, as shown in Figure 2. The cap is provided with a substantially L-shaped discharge neck including a depending vertical portion 36 and a horizontal portion 37, there being a brace at 3-3. The portion 36 is suitably socketed and screw-threaded as shown in Figures 2 and 3 to accommodate the screw neck 29 on the tooth paste tube. The discharge end of the branch 37 has spaced parallel keepers 32 for a plate-type cut-off valve 46. The valve has an elongated horizontal slot All to accommodate the tip portion 42 of a crank 43 formed on one end of a rocker shaft 4 5. The rocker shaft is mounted for oscillation in bearings 55 provided atop the branch 37. wrapped around the rocker shaft and properly attached thereto and anchored to urge the .crank in a direction to normally keep the valve plate closed. The opposite end of the rocker shaft is fashioned into an operating lever including a curvate portion A? which partially surrounds the neck and which terminates in an appropriately angled portion 3. The end portion 18 is provided with a swivelly mounted sleeve as which functions as a convenientanti-friction roller and which serves to accommodate the. head at of the toothbrush. The curvate portion of the lever is substantially C-shaped, as brought out to advan of the return spring. This lifts the valve, cansing same toassume, the open position seen in Figure 1. Now, with the bristles El of the brush located beneath the discharge end. of the neck orportion 3?, the user catches hold of theknob. 2]. andactuatesthe expressing roller tosqueeze paste '52 from the tube l8 onto the brush bristles as illustrated.

I In, .VieW of the foregoing description takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detaileddescription is. accordingl deemed unnecessary.

It is to beunderstood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and within the scope of theappended claims. I

invention, what is neck carried by the lower end of the casing, said A coiled spring :35 is V neck terminating in keepers, a valve plate slidable in said keepers, a rocker shaft operatively connected at one end with said valve plate for lifting it, means for rockably mounting the rocker shaft on said neck, a return spring for said rocker shaft and valve plate, said rocker shaft being provided at one end with a laterally directed curvate lever partially surrounding the neck and terminating in an actuating member, said actuating member being provided with a swivelly mounted'brush accommodating roller.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a dispensing device for use in association with the discharge neck of a collapsible tube of the class shown and described comprising a discharge neck having a discharge end embodying spaced parallel valve keepers, a valve plate slidable in said keepers and normally closing the discharge end of the neck, a pair of fixed bearings mounted exteriorly on said neck, a rocker shaft mountr ed for oscillation in said bearings, said shaft being provided at one end with a crank, said crank being operatively connected. with said,

valve plate for lifting and lowering the latter, a

coiled spring surrounding the rocker shaft and anchored on said neck and shaft in a manner, to exert pressure on the crank to keep the valve normally closed, the remaining end of said rocker shaft having a laterally directed and ar-' cuately curved actuating lever partly surrounding the neck and provided with a swivelly mounted brush adapting roller.

. JOHN M. MILLER.

REFERENCES. CITED The following references are ofrecord in the.

file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Murray Sept. 19,451. 

